[ Kuroko immediately sets upon the tasks given to him, unable to stomach watching Otonashi slice into Akashi. He gathers up the stray sheets and searches through their small bundle of clothing for anything the plants have touched, shaking the remnants out. Anything he finds he tosses into their hearth, burning to a crisp and Kuroko has no remorse watching them shrivel up and turn to ash.

Once he's completes the task, he returns to Otonashi's side and sits next to him, back turned to Akashi. Talk, he suggests, but what exactly was he supposed to say? ]

Akashi-kun... [ He swallows, trying to find the words. ] Yuzuru-san is working really hard, so please hold on.

This seems really surreal, you know... the idea of you dy— [ Kuroko chokes on the word, can't even bring himself to say it, as if saying it will make it possible, real. ] I just never considered it. So, don't. You'll shatter the illusion for me.